Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 David Still II photo LAY OF THE LAND – Precinct 5 councilor Jim Crocker of Osterville makes his pitch to the recreation commission July 11 seeking support to keep the former Osterville Bay School a public property.

Bid by private school for autistic adults still active

The Barnstable recreation commission is being asked by to support a deed restriction on the former Bay School in Osterville that would preserve it for public recreational uses.

At the Commission’s July 11 meeting, Osterville Town Councilor Jim Crocker requested that the commission support a recreation restriction on the property, which would keep it a publicly-available property and allow use of town community preservation funds to improve it.

There remains an active bid to purchase the former school property from an Osterville resident, who would like to turn it into a school for young adults with autism.

The recreation commission agreed to invite Crocker back, as well as have all abutters and interested parties invited to attend its Aug. 1 meeting so it could get better idea of where the community stood on the issue.

The commission used a similar process when considering a proposal by Barnstable Little League to renovate and expand the Bay Lane baseball fields in Centerville.

The commission remains advisory to the town manager on matters related to town property.

In his presentation Crocker said that additional parking at the former school could be used by the new library and the historical society, both within close walking distance. He wanted to be clear that the library, which is in the middle of constructing a larger building, does not need additional parking to meet zoning requirements.

By placing a permanent recreation restriction on the property, Crocker explained that it would become eligible for community preservation funds. He also said that the village of Osterville has not benefited from Community Preservation Act funds since its inception.

Crocker said that he did not 'see an immediate use for the building,' but that it could be used for storage of recreation department equipment in the meantime.

Crocker noted that the village of Osterville does not vote in a town building (Precinct 5’s polling place is at Cape Cod Academy), 'which is unbelievable to me…' He added that there are no public restrooms available in the village.

'I hope this is a project that you would embrace,' Crocker told the commission.

Recreation Commissioner Kathy Pina said that she has spoken to some in the village who think the private use is a good one.

Crocker agreed that the commission should have the opportunity to hear from abutters and representatives from the planned school.

'I support that 100 percent,' Crocker said.

Crocker also acknowledged the bid and that there is a party interested in buying the school, but said that proposal meant 'taking it from the public for their own private use.'

Director of Community Services Lynne Poyant added that the proposal from the school was a bid in response to a request for proposals put out by the town.

Antonia Bellanca of Osterville submitted to only bid under consideration for the Bay School. She founded the Osterville Bay Family School nonprofit to establish a school for young adults with autism at the school. The January 2010 bid, made in response to a request for proposals, remains active.

The town has twice gone out for bid on the property, limited to the building and one acre of land below it. The town-owned ball fields and adjacent community building were not part of the bid package, although the town did indicate they could be include upon further negotiation.

That’s what’s happened for more than a year.

According to a June 6 letter from Bellanca’s attorney, Michael Ford of Harwich, to the village association, reads, 'I wish to assure the members of your association that, contrary to what you may have heard, the proposal … is still actively being considered by the Town management.'

Bellanca’s desire to use the adjacent Community Building as part of the planned school has held up the purchase.

In the letter, Ford indicates that his clients are now in a position to move forward on the community building either through a lease or user agreement, both of which would likely require an additional request for proposals.

In a July 14 phone interview, Bellanca said that a council vote is needed to put a request for proposals out fro use of the recreation building and she is working to find a way to put that before the council without the need to request Crocker’s sponsorship.

Proceeds from the sale would be placed in a school capital fund created with the 2005 sale of the former Grade 5 building to Pope John Paul II High School.

After the meeting, Crocker acknowledged that his proposal would not provide any funds to the school department for future capital needs, but would make the property eligible for Community Preservation Act funds as a recreational use.

Crocker worked with and encouraged the Osterville Village Association (OVA) to acquire the property for use as a community center of sorts. A 2008 application by the OVA for $650,000 in community preservation funds was considered premature, as the association did not own the property.

The commission’s Aug. 1 meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Selectmen’s conference room of Barnstable Town Hall.

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